Proximity Services Frequency Management for Multi-Carrier Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current device-to-device communication systems face challenges in enabling proximity services (ProSe) on frequencies different from the ones used for LTE service, limiting the ability of wireless communication devices to support direct communication without routing through the network infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a wireless communication device equipped with a transceiver and processors that can select and camp on a cell in a first frequency resource, determining if ProSe is supported on a second frequency resource, and initiating D2D communication by sending messages on that resource, allowing simultaneous WAN and ProSe operations even when the device is in RRC idle or connected modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If device-to-device communication is enabled only on the current serving cell frequency, then network infrastructure control is maintained, but communication flexibility and direct device communication capability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency flexibilityVSAvoidfrequency management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency management process into distinct components: the device independently manages D2D communication on the second frequency while the network manages LTE service on the first frequency. This segmentation allows each layer to operate autonomously without requiring full network coordination for D2D frequency selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication device performs self-service by autonomously determining whether a second frequency supports proximity services and independently initiating D2D communication on that frequency without requiring network authorization or coordination, thereby achieving frequency flexibility while maintaining simplified network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If device-to-device communication is routed through network infrastructure, then network control is maintained, but network load increases and data rates decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidnetwork load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the D2D communication function from the network infrastructure and implements it directly at the device level. By taking out the D2D communication path from network routing and enabling direct device-to-device transmission on a separate frequency, the system achieves higher data rates and reduces network load while maintaining network control for LTE services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the device switches to a different frequency for ProSe, then direct communication capability is enhanced, but connection stability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProSe frequency supportVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a frequency dimension separation where LTE service operates on the first frequency and D2D communication operates on the second frequency. This dimensional separation allows the device to maintain stable LTE connectivity while simultaneously enabling flexible ProSe communication on a different frequency without interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3178286B1Systems, methods, and devices for proximity services for multi-carrier capable mobile devices
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 APPLE INC
  • EP3178286B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3178286B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3178286B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user equipment (UE) is configured to perform cell selection and camp on a first cell in a first frequency resource. The UE is configured to determine that proximity services are supported in a second frequency resource. The first and second wireless frequency resources are within licensed spectrums corresponding to one or more mobile communications networks. The UE is configured to start device-to-device communication on the second frequency resource and send, with the transceiver, a device-to-device message in the second frequency resource. The device-to-device message includes one of a device-to-device discovery message and a device-to-device communication message.